Kidoinfo is giving away 4 family fourpacks to attend this year’s Bright Night celebration. See details below to enter.

The artist-run, family-friendly New Year’s Eve festival Bright Night promises to be a most magical evening. It’s not that Harry Potter will be running around town or that that a unicorn will appear, complete with magical horn. (Although both of those would be kind of cool.) This year the main act for Bright Night is the magic/illusion spectacular IllusionQuest. A featured act at Six Flags New England for five years, master illusionist David Garrity and his team will magically appear, disappear, pass through solid objects and even float people from the audience.

Highlights from the performance include a comical illusion where David’s assistant ends up all twisted up; David also teaches a volunteer from the audience how to cut his assistant in half; and the finale features a breathtaking feat where David is chained to a table with 32 steel spikes suspended above him and he must escape before the spikes fall.

In addition to the illusion spectacular, your Bright Night ticket gets you access to over 50 other performances involving nearly 160 performers, including choirs, dance companies, comedians, clowns, puppeteers, jazz bands, a poetry slam, and a whole lot more. The schedule (which is being continually enhanced) runs from 12 noon- 12 midnight on December 31, 2009. There’s free on-street parking or pay $9 in the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Tickets (a Tyvek wristband) are $10 if purchased before December 24. Starting December 25, tickets are $15 each, or buy a family fourpack for $50. Tickets are available online, http://www.brightnight.org, in person at the East Side Marketplace, OOP!, and all Bank RI locations, or by phone via Art-Tix at 401-621-6123.

BRIGHT NIGHT NEEDS OUR HELP!

Some would say that the magical part of Bright Night is that it will happen at all. The largest sponsor, the city of Providence, announced in mid-November that due to budget cuts, they couldn’t afford to sponsor the event. That works out to nearly 30 percent of the festival budget. The artists of Bright Night were determined not to let that deter them. The show must go on–New Year’s Eve must be saved. They’ve started a grassroots campaign called GIVE $20, TELL 10. Their goal is to get you (and 2009 of your closest friends) to give $20 and tell 10 people.

In addition, every performer of Bright Night has agreed to take a pay cut if the festival doesn’t get enough money. Talk about community spirit. So do your part, give a little and buy some tickets! To give, visit http://www.donate.brightnight.org

Want to win a family fourpack to attend the 2009 Bright Night Providence?
Tell us in the comments below: “What is your favorite tradition on New Year’s Day?”
We will randomly select 4 people to win a family fourpack (each valued at $50). Deadline is Wednesday at noon, December 23, 2009.

Join Grammy winning artist Bill Harley along with special guests Keith Munslow and Sally Rogers at the Lincoln School Auditorium for a fun-filled afternoon of songs and stories, all to benefit the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Currently, the Food Bank feeds more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders each month through a network of more than 300 certified member agency programs across the state. SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp Program, now helps one in ten Rhode Islander households purchase food with a 31 percent increase in recipients over the past year.

There will be two performances on Saturday, December 12th,  scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. General admission tickets are available for $12 each and preferred seating tickets for $18 each. All ticket sales, as well as the proceeds from the sales of books and recordings, will help the Food Bank provide food to local families in need.

For more information or tickets, please call the Food Bank at (401) 942-6325 or visit http://goto.rifoodbank.org/billharley.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank is a non-profit organization located in Providence, RI. The Food Bank solicits, stores and distributes food products donated by supermarkets, wholesalers, food processors, local farmers and community food drives. The food is then distributed to the Food Bank’s network of more than 300 member agency programs. In the past fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed 9.5 million pounds of food. For more information about the Food Bank, please visit www.rifoodbank.org.

The Details:

Bill Harley & Friends Benefit Concert
The Lincoln School Auditorium – 301 Butler Avenue, Providence
Saturday, December 12, 2009
2 perfomances at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m
General admission tickets: $12 each
Preferred seating tickets: $18 each

Credit: Photo of Bill Harley provided by Bill Harley.

Putumayo Kids is the children’s and educational division of Putumayo World Music, committed to introducing children to other cultures through music from around the world. Always on the lookout for new music to sample, here’s the latest from one of our favorite labels:  Two new Playground releases and a holiday collection. All Putumayo Kids CDs feature colorfully illustrated liner notes.

European Playground
Parents’ Choice “Recommended” and NAPPA Honors award winner

Take a fun-filled musical tour of Europe without packing a suitcase! This collection of songs takes families on a fun-filled cross genre musical tour around the continent. Features tracks by Sås & Kopp, Alex Schmeisser, Alain Le Lait and Herbie Treehead. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of European Playground will be donated to the European Federation for Street Children.

Picnic Playground
Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner

Pack the world in your picnic basket with Picnic Playground, a collection of delicious songs about food. Features tracks by Jay Mankita, Asheba, Jose Conde, Rhythm Child, Donikkl and Maggie G. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Picnic Playground will be donated to Vitamin Angels, providing essential nutritional supplements to children around the world.

A Family Christmas

If you celebrate Christmas and want a new twist on the classics, listen to songs  from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Martin Sexton, Deana Carter and Leon Redbone.

Now, want to be one of two winners to receive Putumayo’s A Family Christmas CD ? Here’s how:
• Visit the Putumayo website, then email info(at)kidoinfo(dot)com  (with ‘Putumayo’ in the subject), and name another CD from Putumayo.
• One entry permitted per person; United States residents welcome to enter.
• Entry period closes at midnight EST, Tuesday, November 23, 2009.

Looking for new music for your kids that you won’t mind playing while driving in the car? Or that you may have to listen to over and over once your children decide it is their new favorite CD?

You may want to check out Peter Himmelman, the Grammy nominated singer-songwriter and family music artist. He recently released My Trampoline from Minivan Productions. With songs about a trampoline, an African leopard tortoise named King Ferdinand, a picky eater named Peter, and the scarcity of kids named Steve, Himmelman mixes his offbeat sense of humor with lush pop stylings and irresistible beats to make songs that are sure to get you grooving. The CD won a 2009 Gold Award from NAPPA, the national parenting publications association.

Minivan Productions is a new family music label based in Venice, CA. It represents artists with music that is smart, energetic and parent friendly. In early 2010, Minivan plans to reissue CDs from Peter Himmelman’s catalog: My Fabulous Plum, My Best Friend Is a Salamander and My Lemonade Stand, which have been out of print for a while. Like the cover for My Trampoline, all of the Peter Himmelman CDs feature art by world renowned illustrator Pete Oswald, who also created the cover for his Grammy nominated CD My Green Kite (Rounder).

Next up, Minivan plans a compilation series of kid-friendly songs by well-known artists who don’t usually record children’s music. Looking forward to what’s in store.

Now, want to win a copy of Peter Himmelman’s My Trampoline CD ? Here’s how:
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Kidoinfo Giveaway: Win two tickets to see Hayes Greenfield perform in concert at the Ocean State Montessori School in East Providence on November 7, 2009. See details below.

Kids are never too young to be introduced to music—of all kinds. Music has the power to transform us—both kids and adults—change our moods, soothe us to sleep, get us to move and wake our consciousness. Hayes Greenfield has been making music for years as a saxophonist, recording artist, and composer, and he believes in this power of music.

Founder of Jazz-A-Ma-Tazz, an interactive music education program serving schools and community groups around the country, Greenfield recently produced “Music For A Green Planet.” This CD celebrates environmental stewardship in music and song, reminding us that the choices we make have long-term consequences for the planet.

Hayes Greenfield, called “the true Pied Piper of jazz” by Phillip Glass, will be in Providence for two performances on Saturday, November 7, playing  songs from his “Music For A Green Planet” CD. Families can groove to favorite folksongs with a jazzy twist while singing about saving the Earth in one way or another. The concert, which is open to the public, is also a benefit for the the Ocean State Montessori School in East Providence. In addition to music, there will be a room with environmentally safe products that kids at the Montessori school have made, sold, grown, created etc. Food samples will provided by Trader Joe’s, Munroe Dairy, and Whole Foods.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Hayes. Read the interview below:

Kidoinfo: Why did you start working with children?

Hayes: Because I love sharing the magic and joys of jazz with kids.  Plus, for the most part, jazz is not a popular music anymore, and one of my missions is to inspire as many people as I can with it and show them how they can play jazz for themselves.  One person once said to me that the kids that come to see my program see how they can make jazz their own.  Usually I ask in the beginning of a performance, What is jazz?  It is amazing how many kids say it’s “old-style music” or “music from back in the day.” Before they leave a performance, I ask again what jazz is and if it is alive and well, and they all say “Yes!”

Kidoinfo: How old were you when you started playing an instrument/making music?

Hayes: I started on the saxophone when I was 15 but knew that I wanted to be involved with improvising when I was 11 or 12. When I was in elementary school, an improvisational theater company did an assembly program at my school, where they asked for a topic from the audience and then improvised a whole theater piece. I knew right then that improvising was for me.

Kidoinfo: What is your favorite instrument?

Hayes: Sax, drums, and piano

Kidoinfo: What musician would like to play with or collaborate with in the future?

Hayes: Just excellent sensitive ones who know how to listen. I have a couple of projects that I am involved with now that I would like to see grow into bigger ones. One is a trio where we are playing with electronics as well. Extremely creative.

Kidoinfo: Any tips for parents on how they can teach their kids to love music of all kinds?

Hayes: Expose them to live music in all forms, especially music that is played with acoustic instruments. Extremely important! In today’s world, most of the music is electronically produced and kids don’t get any kind of personal experience hearing and seeing music that is played live on acoustic instruments. Listen to all kinds of music. Parents should sit and actively listen to music with their kids.

Concert Details:

Music for a Green Planet concert
Where: Ocean State Montessori School – 100 Grove Street, East Providence, RI
Saturday November 7, 2009. Two concerts at 1:00pm and 3:00pm
Please bring picnic blanket to sit on
Ages: All ages
Cost: $12.00 for adults over 16. $7.00 for kids. Cash and checks only at the door.
Reservations: 401-246-2439
Ages: All ages

Want to win tickets to the concert?

Email info@kidoinfo.com and tell me one of the songs from Hayes Greenfield’s CD, “Music For A Green Planet.” One winner will be randomly selected to win two tickets to attend the concert.

Deadline for entries: October 30, 2009

Storytime has always been special in our house: Re-reading the same picture book a hundred times, finding every book written by a well-loved author or discovering a big book like The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick that when becomes our new nightly read, makes us long for pajama time, eager to find out what happens next.

If you love books, learning about the creative process, and meeting your favorite author or illustrator, The Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Book and Authors is the place to be this Saturday, October 17 from 9:00 to 5:30 at Lincoln School in Providence.

This year’s event will feature exciting local and national authors and illustrators such as: Lois Lowry, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Chris Van Allsburg.  Caldecott award-winning author Brian Selznick will discuss his new book The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Mary Downing Hahn will discuss her book Deep and Dark and Dangerous, winner of the 2009 RI Children’s Book Award. The Children’s Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman, will also be at the Festival.

The day will also include crafts and a special concert by Elizabeth Mitchell. If you’re not already familiar with her music, I recomend hearing Elizabeth perform live—her voice is melodic, folksy and has an ethereal quality. Recording and performing music for children since 1998, she has released four albums, including her most recent release, You Are My Little Bird, which was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered with Melissa Block and was voted best children’s music album of 2006 by Amazon.com. Elizabeth has collaborated with musicians including Levon Helm, Dan Zanes, Ziggy Marley and Ella Jenkins. Elizabeth records and performs with her husband Daniel Littleton and eight year old daughter Storey Littleton. Although she used to live in Providence, she now lives with her family in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.

“This event brings literature to life not only for our students, but for students across Rhode Island and neighboring Massachusetts,” said Meagan Lenihan, Lower School librarian at Lincoln School. “Our goal is to inspire a love of reading and books that hopefully will last a lifetime. This event is a highly acclaimed attraction that brings authors and illustrators from all over the country to Rhode Island. ”

The Details:
Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books and Authors
Location: Lincoln School, 301 Butler Avenue, Providence, RI
Hours: 9:00AM – 5:30PM
Cost: Admission is $3. Professional development credits are available along with a 10% discount for all educators. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Lincoln School Community Scholars Program.
Phone: 331-9696, extension 3135
Website: http://www.festivalofchildrensbooks.org

Here’s the Schedule of Authors and Illustrators. The first presentation starts at 9:15AM and last signing ends at 5PM. Elizabeth Mitchell will be performing from 12:45-1:40PM.

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Rhode Island Premiere at FirstWorks Festival: Experience the rich cultural legacy of American First Nations! Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, the award-winning Native American dancers perform a repertoire rich in authentic Apache, Southwest and Northern Plains traditions for an experience to be shared with the whole family. Native sign language and flute music animate the beautiful Apache Rainbow Dance and the dynamic Hoop Dance, featuring exceptional performers ranging in age from preschool to adult, including the 2008 World Champion Teen Hoop Dancer.

Thanks to FirstWorks, Kidoinfo is offering four lucky readers two tickets each to see the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers perform on Saturday, October 17 at 2pm.

Simply check out the rules below and email us to enter to win (by Noon EST, Friday, October 9, 2009.).
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FirstWorks announces the 6th annual FirstWorks Festival, produced in collaboration with the City of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism. The FirstWorks Festival champions “firsts” in the arts through premiere performances by world-class artists.

FirstWorks is one the reasons why I love the city of Providence and has become an annual event I look forward to with plenty of performances to choose from for the family and makes a cool date night out.

This year’s festival celebrates icons of music and the moving image, the cultural legacy of American masters, revolutionary Cirque theatre, cutting edge digital arts, and more. Kids of all ages may enjoy the festival headliner, Cirque Mechanics performing their very arty and slapstick Cirque theatre production “Birdhouse Factory” at PPAC on November 14. Another exciting event for kids is Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, (a family troupe!) performing for families at RISD Auditorium on Saturday, October 17. Special children ticket prices are available for some of the performances; including Steve Jobe and Chris Turner’s “Chamber Music for Diverse Ensembles” and for the Providence Singers with Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

Artist-up-close events, workshops and performance JumpStarts will be announced closer to the festival. JumpStarts are short performances often outdoors right before the main event that are open to the public, free of charge. Since many young children do not like to be confined and often have short attention spans, JumpStarts are a great way to introduce children to FirstWorks and start their appreciation and love for the arts at an early age. And a way for parents to get a dose of culture even if they are unable to secure a babysitter.

Details of which performances are great for families are listed below. Visit the FirstWorks website to see the full festival schedule. Please note the schedule may change as new events are added.

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Today The Beatles: Rock Band game and fourteen Beatles’ albums digitally re-mastered on CD, went on sale this morning. Although we are not rushing out to buy the The Beatles: Rock Band game—I’ve never been a gamer —I’m tempted to try this one. However I am thankful to Rock Band for bringing back The Beatles.

I am happy to have The Beatles everywhere now. My husband and I have been fans of the iconic band since we were kids and have shared their music with our children from an early age.

Since Rock Band first started marketing the launch of their new game my boys rediscovered The Beatles. Recently we have all been celebrating the return of The Beatles; watching documentaries on TV, watching the film, Help (for the first time) and re-watching the film, A Hard Day’s Night, reading some of the articles about them in the newspaper, and of course listening to music, lots and lots of music.

Happy Beatle’s Day!

This year’s AS220 Foo Fest reminds parents even though we may have children we can still take part in cool fun things happening in the city of Providence. AS220 Foo Fest 2009 is a summer celebration of Rhode Island’s vibrant arts community that will once again fence off and transform Empire Street into a lively party – with 21 music acts on two stages (indoor and outdoor), dancing, eating, interactive art installations, homemade games and local artists showcasing their creations and original tunes.

To make this event more accessible to families with young children Foo Fest will start earlier than in past years, with music and activities geared toward the younger crowd from 1PM to 6PM. The afternoon will offer several very popular children’s music acts like Keith Munslow and Joe’s Backyard Band and interactive programming that includes a giant exquisite corpse drawing, mask-making, homemade pinball arcade games, a giant piňata and mini-golf on Empire Street. So cool!

Kidoinfo is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s event. We will be hosting a children’s activity space, along with Providence Children’s Museum, where your kids can experiment with bubbles and explore making instruments with recycled materials. They can play their homemade music-makers in the What Cheer Style street band with AS220 youth, which takes place at 5:30, marking the end of children’s activities and the beginning of the adults-only fun.

In the evening, Foo Fest will get more mature (making a great date night) with an impressive lineup of several of New England’s most popular bands, including Lightning Bolt and a special band we know you will love, and culminating in a celestial blast from special guest headliner Sun Ra’s Arkestra, the 20-member legendary electronic jazz ensemble.

So mark your calendar and bring your family to play at this year’s Foo Fest 2009!

Details:
AS220 Foo Fest 2009 – 115 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Hours: 1:00PM – 1:00AM.
Family Programming 1:00 – 6:00PM.
Admission: $5. Children aged 3 and under admitted free.
Website: http://www.as220.org/foofest/